Department of National Defence Budget Remains Flat at $20.38 Billion

Credit: SpaceQ/DND.

The Department of National Defence budget for 2018-19 has been set at $20,377,579,955, slightly lower than the previous year.

One of the key themes leading up to this years Departmental Plan (DP) has been the focus on the space and cyber domains.

The DP states that “Effective Innovation is critical for modern armed forces operating in a highly complex, increasingly contested global security environment. To be successful, Department of National Defence (DND) must exploit every type of advantage. This means promoting innovation across all National Defence organizations not only regarding new technologies, such as the emerging space and cyber domains, but also including the modernization of the business of defence.”

Here are some of the highlights related to the space domain.

Investments to enhance capability and capacity

  • To ensure the CAF are modern and relevant into the future, a number of investments are being made in modern capabilities, particularly in the areas of space, cyber and remotely piloted systems. Canada is modernizing its space capabilities and improving the protection of these critical assets against sophisticated threats, while continuing to promote the peaceful use of outer space. We are assuming a more assertive posture in the cyber domain by hardening our defences, and by improving our capability to conduct active cyber operations against potential adversaries in the context of government-authorized military missions. Given the unique value provided by remotely piloted systems, the CAF are also investing in an extensive range of new capabilities for the RCN, the CA, and the RCAF including remotely piloted aerial systems.”

Departmental Result 1.1 – Canadians are protected against threats to and attacks on Canada

  • Maintain a continuous watch over Canada’s land mass, air and maritime approaches and space and cyber domains to take action against threats before they reach Canadian shores and to respond appropriately to contingencies and requests for assistance.

Departmental Result 1.4 – North America is defended against threats and attacks

  • Expand Canada’s capacity to meet NORAD commitments by improving aerospace domain awareness and response through the implementation of the Canadian Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) expansion. The ADIZ is a buffer zone of internationally-recognized airspace surrounding North America that facilitates the identification of aircraft well before they would enter sovereign Canadian or U.S. airspace. It is airspace of defined dimensions within which the ready identification, location, and control of airborne vehicles are required.

Departmental Result 2.1 – Canadian Armed Forces are ready to conduct concurrent operations

  • Advance the integration of our space-based capabilities with the next generation of Canadian Earth-observation satellites, known as the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, set to launch in 2018 to support whole-of-government surveillance needs including monitoring ice flows within Canada’s coastal waters; providing surveillance of Canada’s ocean approaches; monitoring environmental conditions, such as floods and forest fires; and managing and mapping natural resources in Canada and around the world.

 

Canada DND spending trend
Credit: Department of National Defence.

 

DND planned spending 2018-19
Credit: Department of National Defence.

About Marc Boucher

Boucher is an entrepreneur, writer, editor & publisher. He is the founder of SpaceQ Media Inc. and CEO and co-founder of SpaceRef Interactive LLC. Boucher has 20+ years working in various roles in the space industry and a total of 30 years as a technology entrepreneur including creating Maple Square, Canada's first internet directory and search engine.

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